This review contains spoilers, but they are rather vague.

There's no shortage of dark, tragic manga and anime out there. Be it the kind that's gory and torturous from start to finish, tries to have tons of dark twists and turns, or tries to craft the evilest characters imaginable, there's something for everyone who wants something dark and graphic. But very few will ever put together a tragic tale as vividly and realistically as "A Lollypop or a Bullet." The story is poignant, brutal, and, in just 13 chapters, concise. There is no padding to this story and every event carries at least some significance. Yet, despite the length, by the end I really felt like I had seen the main character's life and perspective change in a somber and profound way. And the story never had to do something ridiculous and over-the-top to evoke strong emotions.

Our two main characters contrast each other perfectly, as we have our main character Nagisa Yamada, a straightforward, down-to-earth girl who wants to join a military camp as soon as she's out of middle school and Umino Mokuzu, an eccentric and imaginative child with a propensity for telling outrageous lies and fantasies. Their interactions carry a significant portion of the story's thematic weight, interesting and eccentric at face value, and mind-blowing upon in-depth analysis of the narrative.

The art matches the story in that it is very down-to-earth. I think the facial expressions of characters are a strong point of the art style in this manga. There's not much else to say, but rest assured the art does contribute quite well to the story and characters.

Scores:
Story: 10/10
Art: 8/10
Characters: 9/10
Enjoyment: 9.5/10
Overall: 10/10

*Scores are based on 5/10 being considered average

This is a short read, but it is also one of the most memorable manga I have ever read. For these reasons, it is also one of the very few manga that, at the time of this review, I have actually taken the time to re-read. The art is strong, the characters are very well presented and developed, but the story and themes of this manga are what truly stand out. Thematically and in narrative, this deserves to be considered a masterpiece and a true work of art.